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Confederate  States  of  America,      > 
Navy  Department,  Richmond,  September  6,  1862.  ) 

Hon.  Thomas  S.  Bocock, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

Sir  :  In  response  to  the  following  resolution  adopted  by  the  House 
of  Representatives  on  the  3d  instant,  "  Resolved,  That  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  be  requested  to  send  to  this  House  a  copy  of  the  official 
letter  of  Flag  Officer  Forrest,  touching  the  gallant  exploits  of  Com- 
mander Taylor,  in  command  of  the  little  steamer  Harmony,  in  her 
conflict  with  the  enemy's  frigate  Savannah,  which  resulted  in  a  heavy 
loss  of  men  to  said  frigate  and  great  injury  to  the  same,"  I  have  the 
honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  copy  of  the  letter  referred  to,  and  by 
which  you  will  observe  that  Commander  Fairfax  was  in  command  of 
the  "  Harmony." 

With  much  respect,  your  ob"t  serv't, 

S.  R.  MALLORY, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


[Copy.] 

Flag  Officer's  Office,  Dock  Yard,  ) 
Gosport,  Va.,  Sept.  2,  1861  S 
Sir  :  I  directed  Commander  Fairfax  to  take  charge  of  the  little 
steam-tug  "  Harmony,"  and  mount  upon  her  one  of  the  rifled  guns  of 
57  cwt.  and  carry  with  him  all  the  projectiles  (about  thirty)  then  on 
hand,  and  proceed  along  the  coast,  in  shoal  water,  to  "  Pig  Point,"  to 
exercise  his  best  judgment  in  an  approach  to  the  enemy's  frigate  Sa- 
vannah, at  anchor  off  Newport  News,  and  take  a  position  out  of  reach 
of  her  guns  to  try  the  range  of  his  ;  to  near  her  cautiously  and  do 
her  as  much  damage  as  possible.  He  proceeded,  in  obedience  to  these 
instructions,  and  the  experiment  proved  a  very  satisfactory  one.  I 
learn  to-day  that  several  shells  struck  the  ship,  and  did  great  execu- 
tion ;  the  one  on  her  larboard  quarter  particularly.  After  exhausting 
his  ammunition,  he  returned  with  the  little  steamer,  without  sustaining 
any  injury,  or  the  occurrence  of  any  accident.  He  fired  the  two  re- 
maining shells,  on  his  return,  at  the  shipping  off  Fortress  Monroe, 
the  effect  of  which  could  not  be  seen.  Great  credit  is  due  Commander 
Fairfax  for  this  deed  of  noble  daring,  and  the  success  which  attended 
the  exploit.  Permit  me,  therefore,  to  commend  him  to  the  notice  of 
the  Department. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  FORREST, 

Flag  Officer.  Sr. 
Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory,  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

Richmond,  Va. 


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